Water in motion is hypnotic, especially when tumbling over a rocky precipice. The wonder of photography is that water can be stopped dead in its tracks for a tack sharp image with beads of mist suspended in midair, or left to flow in front of an open shutter, to appear white and silky and unlike anything the naked eye can perceive.
From the rocky canyons of the desert to the mountains of the North, Israel boasts numerous waterfalls, many more than 10 meters in height. Fed by winter rains, they are best viewed from December through March. Many are easily accessible by foot and even car. All of them are worth the effort to witness the power and drama of this precious resource as it makes its way from sky to sea. This gallery features several of Israel’s more well-known falls captured through a variety of photographic techniques.
Yehoshua Halevi
Hidden Falls, NachalArugot, EinGedi Nature Reserve: An moderate 90-minute hike with a refreshing pool to spur the effort.
Yehoshua Halevi
HaTachana Falls, Ayun River Nature Reserve: Upper view. Situated just below Metulla on Israel’s northern border, this park features four major falls along an easy 3.5km trail.
Yehoshua Halevi
HaTachana Falls, Ayun River Nature Reserve: Lower view. The double “tachana” falls viewed from the bottom of the trail. The trick here is to keep your lens dry and mist out of your eyes.
Yehoshua Halevi
HaTanur Falls, Ayun River Nature Reserve: Also part of the Ayun River Reserve, this is the first fall encountered from the park’s western entrance.
Yehoshua Halevi
The Banias Nature Reserve, Golan Heights: This waterway thunders down a mountain as it brings rain and snowmelt from Mt.Hermon into one of the Jordan River tributaries.
Yehoshua Halevi
Dishon Stream: A series of mini-waterfalls makes up this section of the Dishon Stream as it descends to the valley below.
Yehoshua Halevi
EinGedi Nature Reserve: Often, falling rocks create pools of water as in this section of WadiArugot in EinGedi.
Yehoshua Halevi
Nachal David: EinGedi Nature Reserve: The more easily accessible falls at the top of Nachal David in EinGedi tumbles about 15 meters and offers cooling refreshment for the Ibex population that inhabit the park.
Yehoshua Halevi
GanSachneHaShlosha National Park in the Jordan Valley, features a spring-fed, manmade lake with a large waterfall, part of the Amal Stream, at the eastern end of the park.
Yehoshua Halevi
Detail of the falls at GanSachneHaShlosha in afternoon sunlight.
Yehoshua Halevi
Receding waves form a series of tiny falls in the coastal waters of HaBonim Nature Reserve on Israel’s central coast.
Become a better photographer. Digital Photography Made Simple, an 8-week intensive course covering basic technical skills and visual awareness training, begins this month with instructor Yehoshua Halevi. Classes forming in both Jerusalem and Gush Etzion. For complete details, send an email to: goldenlightimages@gmail.com